The technology in today’s home standby generators is downright amazing. Smaller units doing the same job where larger generators were once required… All thanks to load management technology. Most all the major manufactures have some form of load management design marketed under different names with subtle differences specific to each manufacture. ACCM is air conditioning control module from Briggs & Stratton. DLM is digital load module from Generac Power Systems and there are also load shedding devices (load shedding device = load manager) from other manufactures that can be added to a home standby system that doesn’t have load management technology.
These load management systems are designed to let you back up more circuits than the generator may be rated to handle by not allowing the largest loads (which are usually the air conditioners) to demand power from the generator at the same time. This does not mean that if a 12-14kW unit can now handle two smaller air conditioners then it must be alright to handle one larger air conditioner. If you have this concern just take a moment to check the LRA amp rating of your air conditioner. “LRA” stands for “locked rotor amp” and is the air conditioner manufactures listing for the total amperage it takes to turn on the air conditioner. The LRA rating is listed on a data plate that is on condenser for the air conditioner.
Home standby manufactures rarely publish the surge capacity of these generators, mostly because you should not rely on any available surge for continuous duty. The LRA should be below the surge amps of the generator. Not all air conditioners are the same… You need to check the LRA.
Using a smaller generator today over what might have been the requirement years ago is money saving, fuel –efficient, and smart. Automatic systems that practically think for themselves and can provide peace of mind and your property is protected whether you are there or not.
